As someone who has spent thirteen years practicing yoga and more than thirty years teaching people about their personality styles, I’ve observed that each form of yoga has its own personality. Some are precise and focused. Others flow with energy. Some offer stillness, others are hot and intense.
I use four birds to represent the styles first identified more than 2,000 years ago in ancient Greece and China. Here’s how they stretch their way into the yoga studio:
The Eagle Yogi: Driven and Determined
Eagles are goal-oriented, and these yogis go big. They never settle for the easy version of a pose and see each practice as a challenge to conquer. They push harder, deeper, and further, sometimes at the expense of listening to their body. Skip a Chaturanga? Never. And if the instructor says, “Try a headstand,” an Eagle hears, “You will do a headstand.”
Eagles may gravitate toward hot or power yoga, and Eagle teachers likely challenge you and push you to your limit.
The Parrot Yogi: Playful and Expressive
Parrots bring energy and joy to the studio. They chat before class, after class, and sometimes during class. They’re social, love variety, and feed off group energy. You might see them singing along with the music and it wouldn’t be surprising to find them in the front row, striking a pose with flair.
Parrots tend to be drawn to the flowing movements of Vinyasa yoga. And when a teacher fills the quiet stillness of Savasana with inspirational talk, they are probably a Parrot.
The Dove Yogi: Peaceful and Compassionate
Doves practice yoga with an open heart. They find comfort in calm, meditation, and gentle movement. They likely nestle into the back row, perhaps in a yin or restorative class, relishing long holds of poses and inner stillness.
Dove teachers softly guide you to listen to your body. They speak in compassionate tones and always leave space for where you are in the moment.
The Owl Yogi: Precise and Thoughtful
Owls crave clarity and correctness. These yogis want to know: Where should my hips be? What angle should my elbow form? Owl yogis love instructions, props, and alignment cues. You’ll spot them adjusting their blocks just so.
If you’re an Owl, you likely appreciate the predictable and methodical poses of Ashtanga yoga. Owl teachers are eagle-eyed (ironically), catching subtle misalignments and offering focused feedback to help you improve, one posture at a time.
Yoga is more than a practice. It’s a mirror.
Understanding your personality style can help you choose the type of class and instructor that resonates with who you are. Of course, an Eagle may choose to attend a gentle yoga class to quiet their mind, or an Owl may select a Vinyasa class to learn how to relax. But understanding your style allows you to select a class that aligns with what you are seeking and how you are wired.
So, the next time you are on the mat, take a moment to reflect on why you chose that class and that teacher. And see if personality has played a part.
Namaste.
About Merrick Rosenberg
Merrick Rosenberg is the creator of the Eagle, Parrot, Dove, and Owl personality framework and author of Personality Intelligence: Master the Art of Being You. As an award-winning speaker and founder of Take Flight Learning, Merrick has helped hundreds of thousands of people unlock the power of personality styles to transform their communication, leadership, and relationships. He’s on a mission to make self-awareness accessible, fun, and unforgettable.
